As the Champions Cup pool draw was made and the magnititude of Pool 5 unfolded we all took a little breath and thought ‘Wow’. Bath Rugby, Leinster Rugby, Wasps and RC Toulon have 9 European titles between them and would all be expected to be in the knockout stages. However this year they must face off against each other in the opening rounds of the competition knowing full well that all will not make it out of the pool.
Wasps’ Round 1 victory at the RDS will be remembered as one of their great European away days. It was a significant victory and it means that this weekend Leinster Rugby arrive at The Rec with an awful lot to do. In Leo Cullan’s words they are ‘scrambling’ already after just one match.
Bath Rugby haven’t started the domestic season as they would have liked, instead they have stuttered towards this Round 2 Champions Cup fixture. Of course there are extenuating circumstances surrounding this, first the fact that so many of their key individuals were away throughout the summer and second, the unrest and disruption caused by the 'Sam Burgess affair'. Needless to say, the road hasn't been easy for the Aviva Premiership runners' up however all of their tribulations must be forgotten this weekend and a positive Bath Rugby side must emerge on the field. Mike Ford has selected the side that was due to play against Toulon last weekend and on paper it ticks all of the boxes combining an electric back line with a wily and forceful pack.
At the beginning of the week Leinster Rugby still had a number of injury concerns however Isa Nacewa is named in the squad for this weekend and that is a great boost to the side.In total Leo Cullan has made eight personnel changes and two positional changes in a bid to shake things up following last weekend. Ben Te'o and Luke Fitzgerald form a new partnership in the centres with Isaac Boss starting at scrum half. Cian Healy and Sean Cronin come in for Jack McGrath and Richardt Strauss, respectively, in the front row. Mike Ross is Leinster's starting tighthead for the third game in succession.
The key for both sides this weekend will be finding their flow and delivering their game plan with discipline and precision. Leinster conceded 18 turnovers against Wasps and Bath Rugby already have 6 yellow cards to their name after only 4 Aviva Premiership rounds. This match will house a great deal of emotion after last year's European quarter-final and with Leinster's position in the competition on the line. For Bath Rugby the match on 4th April 2015 was one that got away and according to their Director of Rugby Mike Ford it 'still gets him'.
The match ups and head to heads are divine from Jonathan Sexton and George Ford duelling in the middle to Henry Thomas and Cian Helay in the front row. The breakdown will be a key area of contention with Bath's Francois Louw starting for the first time this season after his time with South Africa. In short Saturday lunchtime’s encounter will be a full blown test match between two sides itching to show us all their true colours. The Met Office are forecasting a cold, crisp and dry winter’s day at The Recreation Ground and all of the signs are pointing to a European day to remember.
Bath Rugby Key Men - George Ford, Francois Louw and Kyle Eastmond
Leinster Rugby Key Men - Jonathan Sexton, Jamie Heaslip and Isa Nacewa
2014/15 European Champions Cup Form - Bath Rugby Quarter-Finalist & Leinster Rugby Semi-Finalist
Opta Match Facts
Leinster Rugby have won 6 of their 7 matches against Bath Rugby, including their 18-15 quarter-final fixture last season
Bath Rugby have only won two of their 13 matches against Irish clubs in the competition with the last victory being back in 2005
Leinster Rugby conceded 18 turnovers and 6 penalties in Round 1 against Wasps
Teams
Bath Rugby; 15. Anthony Watson; 14. Semesa Rokoduguni, 13. Ollie Devoto, 12. Kyle Eastmond, 11. Matt Banahan; 10. George Ford, 9. Chris Cook; 1. Nick Auterac, 2. Rob Webber, 3. Henry Thomas, 4. Dom Day, 5. David Attwood, 6. Matt Garvey, 7. Francois Louw (c), 8. Leroy Houston Replacements: 16. Ross Batty, 17. Nathan Catt, 18. Max Lahiff, 19. Stuart Hooper, 20. Alafoti Fa'osiliva, 21. Niko Matawalu, 22. Rhys Priestland, 23. Tom Homer
Leinster Rugby; 15. Isa Nacewa (c); 14. Fergus McFadden, 13. Ben Te'o, 12. Luke Fitzgerald, 11. Dave Kearney; 10. Johnny Sexton, 9. Isaac Boss; 1. Cian Healy, 2. Sean Cronin, 3. Mike Ross, 4. Devin Toner, 5. Hayden Triggs, 6. Rhys Ruddock, 7. Jordi Murphy, 8. Jamie Heaslip Replacements; 16. James Tracy, 17. Jack McGrath, 18. Martin Moore, 19. Dominic Ryan, 20. Josh Van Der Flier, 21. Luke McGrath, 22. Ian Madigan, 23. Zane Kirchner
Teams
Bath Rugby; 15. Anthony Watson; 14. Semesa Rokoduguni, 13. Ollie Devoto, 12. Kyle Eastmond, 11. Matt Banahan; 10. George Ford, 9. Chris Cook; 1. Nick Auterac, 2. Rob Webber, 3. Henry Thomas, 4. Dom Day, 5. David Attwood, 6. Matt Garvey, 7. Francois Louw (c), 8. Leroy Houston Replacements: 16. Ross Batty, 17. Nathan Catt, 18. Max Lahiff, 19. Stuart Hooper, 20. Alafoti Fa'osiliva, 21. Niko Matawalu, 22. Rhys Priestland, 23. Tom Homer
Leinster Rugby; 15. Isa Nacewa (c); 14. Fergus McFadden, 13. Ben Te'o, 12. Luke Fitzgerald, 11. Dave Kearney; 10. Johnny Sexton, 9. Isaac Boss; 1. Cian Healy, 2. Sean Cronin, 3. Mike Ross, 4. Devin Toner, 5. Hayden Triggs, 6. Rhys Ruddock, 7. Jordi Murphy, 8. Jamie Heaslip Replacements; 16. James Tracy, 17. Jack McGrath, 18. Martin Moore, 19. Dominic Ryan, 20. Josh Van Der Flier, 21. Luke McGrath, 22. Ian Madigan, 23. Zane Kirchner
